Bladder Cancer

About 43% of bladder cancer in Alberta is linked to factors we can change. That's about 153 cases we could prevent each year — if we work together.

Why is the impact of Bladder Cancer important to Albertans?

Bladder cancer is the 5th most common cancer in Alberta.1 About 355 adults were diagnosed in 2012.2

Bladder cancer is much more common in men than in women. In fact, about 3 out of 4 people who develop bladder cancer are men.

The risk of getting bladder cancer begins to rise at about age 40. The rate rises more quickly for men than for women.

Rates for new bladder cancer cases in Alberta didn’t change much between 1992 and 2012.

What can I do?

Experts in Alberta agree that we can prevent about 43 out of 100 cases of bladder cancer.1 Here’s how:

Tobacco smoking accounts for almost all of these preventable cases. Tobacco has cancer-causing toxins (called carcinogens) that damage bladder cells. Over time, the damaged cells can turn into cancer. You can lower your risk for bladder cancer when you quit using tobacco or cut down.

More information on bladder cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment at MyHealth Alberta.